More water leaks on Chisinau streets with the weather growing colder

Since the weather grew colder, the number of water leaks on the Chisinau streets has increased to 100, Mihai Golban, head of the Customer Division of Apa-Canal Chisinau SA, said at the meeting of the Chisinau City Hall on November 26. According to Mihai Golban, the rise in the number of water leaks is the result of the difference in the temperature of the water of the Nistru and of the soil in this period of the year. Therefore, the worn pipes are damaged even more. He stressed that the situation is serious because there are no capital investments and the water pipelines are worn out. The new water charges will enable only to preserve the water leaks in the municipal pipes at the same level as from 2008. In another connection, Mihai Golban said that after the charges have been raised, the population and economic entities pay about 100% of the consumed water. This shows once again that the 1% supportability degree of these services is not the main concern of the consumers. Deputy mayor Vlad Cotet referred to two big water leaks in Chisinau – on Iazului street and on the artery that goes to Bubuieci village, where there are 16 cracks along 100 metres of pipe. Cotet said that Apa-Canal Chisinau should submit an expenditure estimate to the relevant commissions that would be then examined and approved by the Chisinau Municipal Council. He stressed the necessity of taking immediate action to replace the pipes in the two mentioned zones. Mihai Golban said that if the local public administration of Bubuieci does not allocate about 5-6 mln lei to repair the aqueduct in the near future, the settlement risk remaining without water rather soon. Currently, the leaks of water are stopped by whatever means possible, including wooden stoppers and by substituting sections of pipes. But this does not change much the situation.